Crystal Palace defender Damien Delaney is determined to be playing Premier League football at Selhurst Park next season, proclaiming: "When the chips are down, we stand up."

The Irish international reckons the squad will be drawing on their experience of defying the odds to gain promotion through the play-offs last term in their mission to retain their top-flight status.

He said: "People looked at us last season limping into the play offs and questioned us but we pulled out two fantastic performances to get to Wembley.

"We know what we are about and we know what is required. When the chips are down, we stand up."

He added: "We’ve got four massive games coming up against Cardiff, Aston Villa, Everton and West Ham and if we can put in a real shift and can play like we did against Chelsea, then we will have a chance.

"If we could stay up this year, what it would do for this club is amazing but we’ve got to do it and that is what we are concentrating on."